Physics 111: Lecture 13

Todays Agenda

Potential Energy & Force

Sys tems of Particles

Center of m ass

Velocity and acceleration of the center of mass

Dynamics of the center of mass

Linear Momentum

Example problems

Physics 111: Lecture 13, Pg 1

Potential Energy & Force

For a conservative force we define the

function:

potential energy
x2

U W F dx
x1

dU
F
dx

Therefore:

Consider some potential energy functions we know, and find the

forces:

U F dx C

1 2
kx C
2

Spring:

Ux

Gravity near earth:

U y mgy C

Newtons Gravity:

UR

GMm

C
R

Fx

dU
kx
dx

Fy

dU
mg
dy

dU
GMm
FR

dR
R2
Its true!!
Physics 111: Lecture 13, Pg 2

Potential Energy Diagrams

Consider a block sliding on a

frictionless surface, attached
to an ideal spring.
1
U s kx 2
2

m
x
U

Physics 111: Lecture 13, Pg 3

Potential Energy Diagrams

Consider a block sliding on a

frictionless surface, attached
to an ideal spring.

F
m
x

1
U s kx 2
2

F = -dU/dx = -slope
F
x

Physics 111: Lecture 13, Pg 4

Potential Energy Diagrams

The potential energy of the block is the same as that of

an object sliding in a

frictionless bowl:

Ug = mgy = 1/2 kx2 = Us

U
y

k
x2
2 gm

is the height of an object

in the bowl at position x

Physics 111: Lecture 13, Pg 5

Equilibrium

F = -dU/dx = -slope
So F = 0 if slope = 0.
This is the case at the
minimum or maximum of
U(x).
This is called an equilibrium
position.
If we place the block at
rest at x = 0, it wont
move.

m
x
U

Physics 111: Lecture 13, Pg 6

Equilibrium

If small displacements from

the equilibrium position result
in a force that tends to move
the system back to its
equilibrium position, the
equilibrium is said to be
stable.
This is the case if U is a
minimum at the equilibrium
position.
In calculus language, the
equilibrium is stable if the
curvature (second derivative)
is positive.

F
m
x
U

F
0

Physics 111: Lecture 13, Pg 7

Equilibrium

Balance
cone
Birds

U
Suppose U(x) looked
unstable
like this:
This has two equilibrium
neutral
positions, one is stable
(+ curvature) and one is
unstable (- curvature).
stable
Think of a small object
sliding on the U(x)
x
0
surface:
If it wants to keep sliding when you give it a little push, the
equilibrium is unstable.
If it returns to the equilibrium position when you give it a little
push, the equilibrium is stable.
If the curvature is zero (flat line) the equilibrium is neutral.

Physics 111: Lecture 13, Pg 8

System of Particles

Until now, we have considered the behavior of very simple

systems (one or two masses).
But real life is usually much more interesting!
For example, consider a simple rotating disk.

An extended solid object (like a disk) can be thought of as a

collection of parts. The motion of each little part depends on
where it is in the object!

Physics 111: Lecture 13, Pg 9

System of Particles: Center of Mass

Ice
table

How do we describe the position of a system made up of

many parts?
Define the Center of Mass (average position):
For a collection of N individual pointlike particles whose
masses and positions we know:

RCM

m1

i 1
N

r1

m i ri
mi

i 1

m4 r
4

m2

RCM
x

r2
r3

m3

(In this case, N = 4)

Physics 111: Lecture 13, Pg 10

System of Particles: Center of Mass

If the system is made up of only two particles:

N

RCM

m i ri

i 1
N

mi

m1 r1 m2 r2

m1 m2

i 1

So:

m1 m2 r1 m2 r2 r1
m1 m2

RCM

m
r1 2 r2 r1
M

where M = m1 + m2

r2 - r1
m1
r1

RCM

m2
r2

y
x
Physics 111: Lecture 13, Pg 11

System of Particles: Center of Mass

If the system is made up of only two particles:

RCM r1

m2
r2 r1
M

where M = m1 + m2
If m1 = m2
RCM r1

1
r2 r1
2

the CM is halfway between

the masses.

r2 - r1

m1
r1

RCM

m2
r2

y
x
Physics 111: Lecture 13, Pg 12

System of Particles: Center of Mass

If the system is made up of only two particles:

RCM r1

m2
r2 r1
M

where M = m1 + m2
If m1 = 3m2
RCM r1

r2 - r1

1
r2 r1
4

the CM is now closer to

the heavy mass.

m1

m2

RCM

r1

r2

y
x
Physics 111: Lecture 13, Pg 13

System of Particles: Center of Mass

Baton

The center of mass is where the system is balanced!

Building a mobile is an exercise in finding centers of mass.

m1

m2

m1

m2

Physics 111: Lecture 13, Pg 14

System of Particles: Center of Mass

We can consider the components of RCM separately:

( X CM ,YCM , Z CM )

i m i x i , i m i y i , i m i z i
M

m4 r
4

m2

m1
r1

RCM
x

r2
r3

m3

(In this case, N = 4)

Physics 111: Lecture 13, Pg 15

Example Calculation:

X CM

YCM

Consider the following mass distribution:

i mi x i m0 ( 2 m )12 m24

12
M
4m

2m

m0 ( 2 m )12 m0
my
i i i
6
M
4m

(12,12)
m

m
(0,0)

(24,0)

RCM = (12,6)
Physics 111: Lecture 13, Pg 16

System of Particles: Center of Mass

For a continuous solid, we have to do an integral.

dm
y

r
x

RCM

rdm rdm
M
dm

where dm is an infinitesimal
mass element.

Physics 111: Lecture 13, Pg 17

System of Particles: Center of Mass

We find that the Center of Mass is at the center of the

object.

RCM
x

Physics 111: Lecture 13, Pg 18

System of Particles: Center of Mass

We find that the Center of Mass is at the center of the

object.

RCM

The location of the center

of mass is an intrinsic
property of the object!!
(it does not depend on where
you choose the origin or
coordinates when
calculating it).

Physics 111: Lecture 13, Pg 19

System of Particles: Center of Mass

We can use intuition to find the location of the center of mass for symmetric objects that have uniform density:
It will simply be at the geometrical center !

+
CM

Physics 111: Lecture 13, Pg 20

Pisa

System of Particles: Center of Mass

Bottle

The center of mass for a combination of objects is the

average center of mass location of the objects:
N

RCM

+
R2 - R 1

RCM

m2

R2

mi R i

i 1
N

mi

i 1

so if we have two objects:

RCM

m1 R1
y

m1R1 m2 R2

m1 m2
R1

m2
R2 R1
M

x
Physics 111: Lecture 13, Pg 21

Lecture 13, Act 1

Center of Mass

The disk shown below (1) clearly has its CM at the center.
Suppose the disk is cut in half and the pieces arranged as shown in (2):
Where is the CM of (2) as compared to (1)?

(a) higher

(b) lower

(c) same

X
CM

(1)

(2)
Physics 111: Lecture 13, Pg 22

Lecture 13, Act 1

Solution

The CM of each half-disk will be closer to the fat end than to the thin end
(think of where it would balance).

The CM of the compound object will be halfway between the

CMs of the two halves.

This is higher than the CM of the disk

X
X

X
CM

(1)

(2)
Physics 111: Lecture 13, Pg 23

System of Particles: Center of Mass Double

cone
The center of mass (CM) of an object is where we can freely pivot
that object.

pivot
+
CM

Gravity acts on the CM of an object (show later)

If we pivot the object

somewhere else, it will
orient itself so that the
CM is directly below
the pivot.

pivot
+

CM

This fact can be used to find

the CM of odd-shaped objects.

pivot
+
CM

mg

Physics 111: Lecture 13, Pg 24

System of Particles: Center of Mass

Odd
shapes
Hang the object from several pivots and see where the
vertical lines through each pivot intersect!
pivot

pivot

pivot
+
CM

The intersection point must be at the CM.

Physics 111: Lecture 13, Pg 25

Lecture 13, Act 2

Center of Mass

3 pronged
object
Fork, spoon,
and match

An object with three prongs of equal mass is balanced on a

wire (equal angles between prongs). What kind of
equilibrium is this position?

a) stable
b) neutral
c) unstable
Physics 111: Lecture 13, Pg 26

Lecture 13, Act 2

Solution
The center of mass of the
object is at its center and is
initially directly over the wire

If the object is pushed slightly to

the left or right, its center of
mass will not be above the wire
and gravity will make the object
fall off

+ CM

+ CM

mg

mg

(front view)
Physics 111: Lecture 13, Pg 27

Lecture 13, Act 2

Solution

Consider also the case in which the two lower prongs have balls of equal mass attached to them:

CM

mg

In this case, the center of mass

of the object is below the wire

+ CM
mg

When the object is pushed slightly,

gravity provides a restoring force,
creating a stable equilibrium
Physics 111: Lecture 13, Pg 28

Velocity and Acceleration

of the Center of Mass

If its particles are moving, the CM of a system can also move.

Suppose we know the position ri of every particle in the system
as a function of time.

So:

And:

RCM

1 N
m i ri
M i 1

VCM

dRCM 1 N
dri 1 N

mi
mi v i
dt
M i 1
dt M i 1

ACM

dVCM 1 N
dv i 1 N

mi
m i ai
dt
M i 1
dt
M i 1

N
M
mi

i 1

The velocity and acceleration of the CM is just the weighted

average velocity and acceleration of all the particles.
Physics 111: Lecture 13, Pg 29

Linear Momentum:

Definition: For a single particle, the momentum p is

defined as:
(p is a vector since v is a
p = mv
vector).
So px = mvx etc.

Newtons 2nd Law:

F = ma
d
( mv)
m dv
dt
dt

dp
dt

Units of linear momentum are kg m/s.

Physics 111: Lecture 13, Pg 30

Linear Momentum:

For a system of particles the total

momentum P is the vector sum of
the individual particle momenta:

i 1

i 1

P pi m i v i

i 1

But we just showed that m i v i MVCM

So

VCM

1 N

mi v i
M i 1

P MVCM

Physics 111: Lecture 13, Pg 31

Linear Momentum:

So the total momentum of a system of particles is just the

total mass times the velocity of the center of mass.
P MVCM

dV
dP
M CM MACM m i ai Fi ,net
dt
dt
i
i

Observe:

dP
We are interested in dt so we need to figure out

Fi ,net
i

Physics 111: Lecture 13, Pg 32

Linear Momentum:

Suppose we have a system of three particles as shown.

Each particle interacts with every other, and in addition
there is an external force pushing on particle 1.

Fi ,NET F13 F12 F1,EXT

i

F31

F21 F23
F31 F32

F1,EXT

(since the other forces

cancel in pairs...Newtons
3rd Law)

m3
F32

F13

F23

m1 F12

F21

m2

F1,EXT

All of the internal forces cancel !!

Only the external force matters !!
Physics 111: Lecture 13, Pg 33

Linear Momentum:

Only the total external force matters!

dP
Fi ,EXT FNET ,EXT
i
dt

m3

Which is the same as:

FNET ,EXT

dP
MACM
dt

m1

m2
F1,EXT

Newtons 2nd law applied to systems!

Physics 111: Lecture 13, Pg 34

Center of Mass Motion: Recap

We have the following law for CM motion:

FEXT

Pork chop
Pendulum

dP
MACM
dt

This has several interesting implications:

It tells us that the CM of an extended object behaves like a simple point

mass under the influence of external forces:
We can use it to relate F and A like we are used to doing.
It tells us that if FEXT = 0, the total momentum of the system can not
change.
The total momentum of a system is conserved if there
are no
external forces acting.

Physics 111: Lecture 13, Pg 35

Example: Astronauts & Rope

Two astronauts at rest in outer space are connected by a light rope. They begin to pull towards each other. Where do
they meet?

M = 1.5m

Physics 111: Lecture 13, Pg 36

Example: Astronauts & Rope...

They start at rest, so VCM = 0.

VCM remains zero because

there are no external forces.

So, the CM does not move!
They will meet at the CM.

M = 1.5m
CM
L

x=L

x=0

Finding the CM:

If we take the astronaut on the left to be at x = 0:
x cm

M ( 0 ) m( L ) m( L ) 2

L
M m
2 .5 m 5

Physics 111: Lecture 13, Pg 37

Lecture 13, Act 3

Center of Mass Motion

A man weighs exactly as much as his 20 foot long canoe.

Initially he stands in the center of the motionless canoe, a distance of 20 feet from shore. Next he walks toward the shore until he gets to the end of the canoe.
What is his new distance from the shore.
(There no horizontal force on the canoe by the water).

20 ft

(a) 10 ft
before
20 ft

(b) 15 ft
(c) 16.7 ft

? ft
after
Physics 111: Lecture 13, Pg 38

Lecture 13, Act 3

Solution

Since the man and the canoe have the same mass, the
CM of the man-canoe system will be halfway between
the CM of the man and the CM of the canoe.

Initially the CM of the system is 20 ft from shore.

X
X

20 ft
CM of system
Physics 111: Lecture 13, Pg 39

Lecture 13, Act 3

Solution

Since there is no force acting on the canoe in the x-direction, the

location of the CM of the system cant change!

Therefore, the man ends up 5 ft to the left of the system CM,

and the center of the canoe ends up 5 ft to the right.

He ends up moving 5 ft toward the shore (15 ft away).

15 ft

10 ft
X

20 ft

5 ft

CM of system
Physics 111: Lecture 13, Pg 40

Recap of todays lecture

Systems of particles

(Text: 8-1)

Center of mass

(Text: 8-1 & 12-6)

Velocity and acceleration of the center of mass (Text:8-3)

Dynamics of the center of mass

Linear Momentum

Example problems

Look at textbook problems Chapter 8: # 3, 7, 17, 29, 35, 77, 111

(Text: 8-3 to 8-4)

Physics 111: Lecture 13, Pg 41